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Data Tue Dec 16, 2014 10:43 AM
Normal EPO level?
 
I started Epogen a week ago and was told to hold off this week's injection until I heard from the clinic. A tech just called and said my hemoglobin was unchanged (9.1) so I should go ahead and give myself the second injection. She also told me that my EPO level had been 578.4. In looking on the Internet I saw normal ranges for EPO around 4 -20 mU/mL. Mine seems awful high. Is that possible and what is the significance?

Cheers

Data

Birgitta-A Tue Dec 16, 2014 03:50 PM
EPO
 
Hi Data!
You know EPO is made by our kidneys - when our HGB is low the kidneys try to increase EPO that should increase HGB. Many of us have a high EPO at dx because our kidneys have tried during a long time to increase HGB.

My EPO was more than 800 at dx - that means that I never got EPO drugs since they don't work well if the patients EPO initially is more than 500.

Hopefully Epogen will increase your HGB even if you are a "borderline patient" considering EPO treatment ;).
Kind regards
Birgitta-A

Data Tue Dec 16, 2014 03:59 PM
thanks
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Birgitta-A (Post 36356)
Hi Data!
You know EPO is made by our kidneys - when our HGB is low the kidneys try to increase EPO that should increase HGB. Many of us have a high EPO at dx because our kidneys have tried during a long time to increase HGB.

My EPO was more than 800 at dx - that means that I never got EPO drugs since they don't work well if the patients EPO initially is more than 500.

Hopefully Epogen will increase your HGB even if you are a "borderline patient" considering EPO treatment ;).
Kind regards

Birgitta-A
Thanks for the info. I had heard that if your EPO level was high the chance of Epogen working was low but I had never heard the cut off. I guess I shouldn't hold out too much hope. Thanks again.

Data

Birgitta-A Wed Dec 17, 2014 06:22 AM
EPO drugs
 
Hi Data!
Here is info about EPO drugs. Remember that if EPO alone doesn't work drugs like Neupogen should be added.
http://www.qxmd.com/calculate-online...astic-syndrome
Kind regards
Birgitta-A

Data Wed Dec 17, 2014 08:00 AM
Very Interesting
 
Birgitta-A,
My levels gave me a 23% chance. I guess that is better than none. Thanks. I will talk to my doc about adding Neupogen.

Thanks again and have a happy holiday.:)

Data

Marlene Wed Dec 17, 2014 08:43 AM
You need to give it more than a week to work. It can take up to 13 weeks before you see any significant changes. It would be helpful in tracking efficacy if they would check retic% and Absolute Retic counts. It would have been good to know that before starting. An increase in these indicates an increase in red cell production that will eventually show up in the HGB.

Data Wed Dec 17, 2014 08:47 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marlene (Post 36369)
You need to give it more than a week to work. It can take up to 13 weeks before you see any significant changes. It would be helpful in tracking efficacy if they would check retic% and Absolute Retic counts. It would have been good to know that before starting. An increase in these indicates an increase in red cell production that will eventually show up in the HGB.
Marlene,
I agree. I wasn't giving up yet!

Have a great holiday!!:)

Data


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